Airstream Interstate & towing

[Paul Dobbin]

We've been Airstream Land Yacht Forum participants for a dozen years and are thinking of downsizing. Our Land Yacht has a 230 HP Cummins Diesel and a 6 speed Allison Automatic transmission. We tow an aluminum car trailer with an antique car, weights approaching 5000 lbs at times. We have plenty of torque and power to get up to merge speeds on Interstate Highways. Only problem is we're to long for comfort (35 + 20 = a small train in small towns)
QUESTION: How good are the Airstream Interstates at towing? Suggestions and comments welcome.

[amirm]

While I have not done it, a recent thread I read had pretty positive reports on it. See http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ng-129776.html

[Protagonist]

A stock Interstate makes an entirely adequate tow vehicle for any trailer (or toad) up to 5000 pounds. However, it can be made better by the addition of a RennTech ECU tune, which provides a boost to the horsepower and torque, though at a penalty to fuel economy at speeds over 60mph.

[Haasman]

Not a lot of experience with towing with our 2016 Interstate....

.... but last summer I towed a 1,500 pound 16' Alumina dual axel trailer with a 2,500 sports car on it for a over a hundred miles.

In preparation I centered the car on the trailer (center of gravity) and checked visually the tongue weight that seemed right, towing was truly excellent. I was very surprised.

I would do it again and for longer distances.

Haasman

[Mcrid]

I've towed 4300 lbs with an Acura MDX and it has done better than most framed trucks with 17+ mpg for over 3500 miles. I've had two lighter loads on the '16 AS GT (1700 and 2500 lbs) and it has done just fine. In October it will get tested with the 4300 lbs (aluminum trailer with an NSX onboard). Brake controller is already installed. I suspect it will do as good if not better than the MDX.

[PSchw]

I tow a 2007 Honda Element fully loaded with my none extended 2013 Interstate and u get about 17 to 15mpg all of course depending on your driving style.
The none extended has the benefit of more capacity and shorter overhang.
Peter

[xrvr]

When I had my early model AI, I towed a 19 foot Bambi. It was adequate and redundant.

[Beaubill]

This is our 2BR 1&1/2 bath. Boondocks in summer use generated and a/c in the van, in the winter use the heat in the trailer. Some times we hook up both in the campground that have 50 & 30amp service, can run both refrigirater son elec. MPG 14.5 to 17.3

[Hittenstiehl]

Beaubill very nice set up, best of both.

[amirm]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Beaubill very nice set up, best of both.

My thoughts exactly. Airstream should use those pictures in their brochures!

[Paul Dobbin]

Beaubill,
That looks like about the weight we need to tow, 5000 lbs. Have you used that rig in the Smoky Mountains yet ? That's where we live and where it has to perform for us because it's up hill and down to go any direction.
After 27 years of towing and RVing, we know most anything does well on flat land (Like Florida), but we don't live there any more.

[xrvr]

See post number 7. That was in the smokeys and just barely adequate,.

[Mr. B]

Nobody mention lights output in our 7-pin hitch connector. Recently I put a step-bar with law-consumption LED lights, and it works fine, and it is the same as trailer lights.

But when I turn all vehicle lights off, I found few small LED diodes still stay very slightly lighted. I checked voltage on the hitch connector, and have found 3.6 volts permanently staying there.

My question for those who understands in vehicle electricals:
is the above a normal in the trailer hitch lighting outputs, and if yes - whould 3.6 volts possibly drain the vehicle's battery through permanently connected diodes there?

[Mr. B]

This is where 3.6 volts are permanently exist, even when all vehicle lights are in off position:
(yes there was 7-to 4 pin connector when I was measured)))

[MILATV]

Originally Posted by Mr. B

This is where 3.6 volts are permanently exist, even when all vehicle lights are in off position:
(yes there was 7-to 4 pin connector when I was measured)))

I have led lights on my motorcycle hauler and have to unplug lights when parked to keep from draining battery.

RE towing. Have towed the 5,000# limit + on mine over 3,000 mile trips from NC to So Cal. Struggled in Rockies (north route via IL one trip) does decent in Appalachian mountains. 45 mph in the truck lane more than I liked - but 17 mpg was average & ride in rear seats was actually comfortable.


Mike

[Mr. B]

Mike, have you ever measured voltage in your rear hitch outlet with all lights off?

Also, ride in your rear seat was comfortable - why?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Mr. B

Also, ride in your rear seat was comfortable - why?

The tongue weight on the hitch moderates the bounce. The added weight of the trailer tongue not only reduces the height of the bounce, but also makes the bounce slower, so that there's less of a catapult effect.

[Beaubill]

We have been on Interstate 40 & 26 with no problems , been to Asheville and Knoxville. You do have to be careful going down hill but going uphill was never a problem. Also remember our MB engine is a 5 cylinder and it's a 2500 not a 3500 which have a V6 engine. The 21ft Sovereign has a dry weight of 3900lbs, and is not as tall as the van so there is no wind pressure that reduces the MPG. I might add that you hardly notice that the trailer is back there.

[Protagonist]

Passed through Knoxville yesterday on my way home from Lewisburg. Being a flatlander from Louisiana, the up-and-down terrain around Knoxville did make me a bit nervous, especially since it was raining and visibility was reduced. But my Interstate handled pulling my 3000-pound toad on those roads without incident due to judicial use of downshifting on the downslopes to maintain my desired speed. Hardly had to touch the brake at all unless someone cut too close in front of me and braked.

[TRIPPPIN]

I owned a 2008 Sprinter motorhome I purchased from Can Am RV in London Ontario. Andy Thompson used it before I purchased it to tow a 34 foot Airstream and wrote an article on it for RV magazine. Call Andy and he can tell you about the setup.